Chapter 51

How long has it been since I lay down on the bed?

A terrible sense of lethargy envelops my body. The overly large bed only makes me feel more lonely. I wanted to sleep, but even with my eyes closed, my consciousness just floats on the surface of sleep.

“…Annoying.”

She clearly said she was interested in me, so why is she paying attention to someone else in front of me? What’s so great about a cold woman like Iris that she leaves me alone like this?

Liar.

I didn’t know Viviana was such a shallow person.

Disappointing.

If she was like this from the start…

“…She shouldn’t have been nice to me in the first place.”

A weak voice slipped out. With no strength left to move, I buried my face in the pillow for a while, suppressing the throbbing in my chest.

The loneliness grew, and it felt like tears would come, but I forced a bright smile and abruptly sat up on the bed.

“…No? Actually, it’s a good thing.”

I quickly approached the mirror. A pretty girl reflected in the mirror. When I reached out my hand, the girl in the mirror also reached out. As our pale hands touched the thin surface of the mirror, the feeling of not being entirely alone was comforting.

“Viviana was just a source of money anyway.”

And a huge sucker too.

Who would pledge their family name and promise lifelong support just for someone to play the role of a pet?

Stupid, stupid.

Thinking about it, wasn’t I the only one at a loss by getting close to such a sucker who couldn’t even calculate gains and losses?

It wasn’t something to be this gloomy about in the first place. I also thought of Viviana as nothing more than a financial backer, so what’s the point of acting so pitifully?

If Viviana doesn’t care about me, then I won’t care about her either.

I’ll just endure the remaining time in the mansion and humor her for the remaining three years of the contract.

“…Then do I have to stay alone all this time?”

…I hate being lonely.

For a moment, the eyes of the girl reflected in the mirror shook. I quickly shook my head and forced a smile on my lips.

The confinement life ahead is only about three weeks left. Of course, I still have to play the role of Viviana’s pet for three more years… but at least I can return home in three weeks.

Then I’ll receive plenty of love from my mother. No matter what, she will love me.

Of course, that love isn’t directed at me… but still, it’s love…

I’ll feel enough affection. At least a hundred, a thousand times happier than being here with someone like Viviana.

And if I get lonely, I can just go back to the social circle. Then I’ll be surrounded by pretty young ladies again, receiving love and gifts.

So, Viviana is unnecessary after all.

Knock knock-

“I’m here, Tina.”

“…”

Speak of the devil, Viviana opened the door and entered. When our eyes met, my heart sank coldly.

“Tina?”

At Viviana’s call, I put on a bright smile and grinned at her.

“Have you arrived, Princess?”

“…Yeah.”

Viviana looked at me with a strange gaze, then slowly took off her coat and hung it on the hanger. Yesterday, she didn’t even take off her coat and went straight to her room, so what’s with the sudden change today?

“Oh, are you planning to stay here?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“No, it’s just that you usually only say a few words and leave. I thought you’d do the same today.”

When I smiled and spoke, Viviana looked momentarily flustered.

“Tina, is something bothering you?”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

Is she really asking because she doesn’t know?

How shameless can she be to ask like that? But it doesn’t matter. I’ve decided not to care about Viviana anymore.

“No, nothing’s wrong.”

Just this morning, I thought about letting her touch my butt once, but now, even if I die and come back to life, that won’t happen. Too bad, Viviana.

“Really? Then excuse me for a moment.”

With that, Viviana strode over to me.

“Huh? Wait—why are you coming closer… Eek?!”

Viviana instantly lifted me in a princess carry. She walked over to the bed, laid me down, and then lay down beside me.

As her arms wrapped around my waist, we ended up in a strange position, lying side by side with Viviana hugging me from behind. In the midst of this unexpected situation, I blinked in confusion while Viviana buried her face in my shoulder and took a deep breath.

“Pets really are the best. It’s quite energizing.”

“…”

“By the way, did you use perfume? You smell really nice.”

“…No, I didn’t.”

“Huh? Then is this your natural scent?”

I stared blankly at Viviana’s hands wrapped around my waist. She’s been indifferent for days, so why is she acting like this all of a sudden?

Is she trying to mess with me?

“…This is uncomfortable, Viviana.”

My voice came out quite subdued. Viviana lifted her face from my shoulder and pulled me even closer to her.

“Is the position uncomfortable?”

“…Yes.”

“Bear with it. You’re my pet, aren’t you?”

Her commanding voice made me annoyed. She gave Iris those sweet looks while pushing me away, and now she’s acting like this.

Does she just see me as some kind of fatigue recovery tool?

So selfish.

“…Sure, whatever.”

But I had no right to resist. She was in the position of power, and I was just the subordinate. All I could do was answer in a bored tone.

As I suppressed my irritation and stayed in Viviana’s embrace, she sighed and broke the awkward silence.

“Sorry, Tina. I’ve left you alone a lot lately.”

“Huh?”

I was surprised and looked up, not expecting her to apologize.

“I’ve been busy. Preparing for winter, and it’s time to arrange food supplies for the soldiers on the front lines.”

“…”

“But I’ll have some free time soon, so I can focus more on you.”

“…Really? But you seemed quite close with Iris. Don’t you need to care about her too?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted it. There was no need to be so sarcastic.

Especially since getting annoyed now wouldn’t do me any good. It was a slip of the tongue I wouldn’t have made normally. But spilled water and spoken words can’t be taken back.

Viviana looked at me, momentarily surprised. It was burdensome to meet her purple eyes directly, but I didn’t look away, suppressing the emotions inside and forcing a smile.

“Don’t mind what I said.”

“No, Tina… Are you talking about this morning with Iris?”

“No, it was just a slip of the tongue. Don’t worry about it.”

“…”

Viviana hesitated for a moment, fidgeting with her lips, then with a determined expression, gently took my hand.

“…Tina, actually, we were talking about you.”

“Me?”

Huh?

About me?

I made a puzzled expression, wondering what this was about.

“I’ve been busy. So I couldn’t come see you directly, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t concerned about you.”

Viviana scratched her head awkwardly and continued.

“I asked Iris about you. If you were eating well, if you were sick, if you needed anything.”

“…Really?”

“Of course. You’re my precious pet, so I wouldn’t just leave you alone.”

Viviana stared at me intently. Her purple eyes weren’t cold like before but were once again filled with warm flames directed at me.

…Is this really true?

I thought her affection for me had cooled…

Was it just my misunderstanding?

She clearly told me to leave earlier.

“Tina, did you think I left you for Iris?”

“…Didn’t you?”

“Tina, that could never happen.”

…What? She was so concerned about me that she was talking about me?

So that affectionate look she gave Iris was about me?

So… her affection for me hasn’t cooled?

Was I really mistaken?

…Really?

“Hmph, hmph.”

My stiff lips slowly twitched. My chest no longer ached, and instead, a strange pleasure spread through my body.

I see, just as I expected. Viviana, you’ve completely fallen for me, haven’t you?

I almost made a huge misunderstanding.

I’ll have to be more careful from now on.

“Sorry, were you upset?”

Viviana spoke in a warm voice, gently stroking my head. Feeling my heart warm up a little, I looked up at her.

Looking at her again, she really is beautiful. Even lying down, she maintains such a perfect appearance. I thought Iris was pretty too, but there’s a reason Viviana is the protagonist.

Just a moment ago, I thought of her as a sucker and planned to use her, but now she seems like a decent person.

So maybe I can give her a little special treatment? I carefully wiggled my fingers and turned my body. Facing Viviana directly, I felt a wave of embarrassment.

“Y-You can touch me if you want.”

“Huh?”

Viviana tilted her head, puzzled. I couldn’t bring myself to look her in the eye, so I turned back and wiggled my fingers.

“M-My butt… you can touch it a little…”